2001 NISSAN SENTRA manual transmission

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ...................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) .......................5-2
Three-way catalyst ............................................5-2
Avoiding collision and rollover ...........................5-3
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ....................5-3
Ignition switch .........................................................5-4
Automatic transmission .....................................5-4
Manual transmission..........................................5-5
Key positions .....................................................5-5
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system
(NVIS) (if so equipped)......................................5-6
Before starting the engine ......................................5-6
Starting the engine .................................................5-7
Driving the vehicle ..................................................5-7
Automatic transmission (if so equipped) ...........5-7
Manual transmission........................................5-11
Parking brake .......................................................5-13
Cruise control (if so equipped) .............................5-14
Precautions on cruise control ..........................5-14Cruise control operations ................................5-14
Break-in schedule ................................................5-16
Increasing fuel economy ......................................5-16
Parking/parking on hills ........................................5-17
Power steering .....................................................5-18
Brake system........................................................5-18
Braking precautions .........................................5-18
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
(if so equipped)................................................5-19
Cold weather driving ............................................5-20
Freeing a frozen door lock ..............................5-20
Anti-freeze .......................................................5-20
Battery .............................................................5-20
Draining of coolant ..........................................5-20
Tire equipment.................................................5-21
Special winter equipment ................................5-21
Driving on snow or ice.....................................5-21
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ..............5-22
ZX

gently while rotating the steering wheel
slightly right and left.
WARNING
Never remove or turn the key to the
LOCK position while driving. The steer-
ing wheel will lock. This may cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle and
could result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
The ignition switch includes an anti-theft
steering lock device.
The key can be removed only when the
ignition switch is in the LOCK position.
On manual transmission models, to turn
the ignition key to LOCK from ACC or ON,
push in the key, then turn the key to LOCK.
In order for the steering wheel to be
locked, it must be turned about 1/8 of a
turn clockwise from the straight up posi-
tion.To lock the steering wheel, turn the key
to the LOCK position. Remove the key.
To unlock the steering wheel, insert the
key and turn it gently while rotating the
steering wheel slightly right and left.
WARNING
Never remove or turn the key to the
LOCK position while driving. The steer-
ing wheel will lock. This may cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle and
could result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury.
KEY POSITIONS
LOCK: Normal parking position (0)
OFF: (Manual transmission model) (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking
the steering wheel.
ACC: (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accesso-
ries such as the radio when the engine is
not running.
ON: Normal operating position (3)
This position turns on the ignition system
and the electrical accessories.
WSD0005
Starting and driving5-5
ZX

1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic transmission:
Move the shift selector lever to P (Park)
or N (Neutral). (P is recommended.)
The shift selector lever cannot be
moved out of P (Park) and into any of
the other gear positions if the ignition
key is turned to LOCK or if the key is
removed.
The starter is designed not to operate
if the shift selector lever is in one of
the driving positions.
Manual transmission:
Move the selector lever to N (Neutral),
and depress the clutch pedal to the floor.
The starter is designed to operate
only when the clutch pedal is fully
depressed.
3. Crank the enginewith your foot off the
accelerator pedalby turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but
fails to run, repeat the above procedure.
Ð If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold or hot weather, de-press and hold the accelerator pedal
to help start the engine.
Ð In the summer, when restarting the
engine within 30 minutes after it has
been stopped, keep the accelerator
pedal fully depressed while starting.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, other-
wise the starter could be damaged.
4.Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially
in cold weather.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
(if so equipped)
WARNING
cDo not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), 2
or 1. Always depress the brake pedal
until shifting is completed. Failure to
do so could cause you to lose con-
trol and have an accident.
cCold engine idle speed is high, so
use caution when shifting into a for-
ward or reverse gear before the en-
gine has warmed up.
cNever shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving. This
could cause an accident.
CAUTION
cWhen stopping the vehicle on an
uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle
by depressing the accelerator pedal.
The foot brake should be used for
this purpose.
STARTING THE ENGINE DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-7
ZX

instrument panel comes on at this
time.
When cruising at a low speed or
climbing a gentle slope, you may feel
uncomfortable shift shocks as the
transmission shifts between third gear
and overdrive repeatedly. In this case,
depress the OVERDRIVE switch to
turn the OVERDRIVE off. The O/D
OFF indicator light in the instrument
panel comes on at this time.
When driving conditions change, depress
the overdrive switch to turn the OVER-
DRIVE on.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the OVER-
DRIVE off. This reduces fuel economy.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING
cDo not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
cDo not over-rev the engine when
shifting to a lower gear. This may
cause a loss of control or engine
damage.
CAUTION
cDo not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal while driving. This may cause
clutch damage.
cStop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse).
cWhen the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a
stop light), shift to N (Neutral) and
release the clutch pedal with the foot
brake applied.
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or
downshifting, depress the clutch pedal fully,
shift into the appropriate gear, then release
the clutch slowly and smoothly.
You cannot shift directly from fifth gear into
R (Reverse). First shift into N (Neutral), then
into R (Reverse).
If it is difficult to move the selector lever into
R (Reverse) or 1 (First), shift into N (Neu-
tral), then release and depress the clutch
pedal again and shift into R (Reverse) or 1
(First).
WSD0014
Starting and driving5-11
ZX

SR20DE engine models:
GEAR MPH (km/h)
1st 35 (55)
2nd 60 (95)
3rd 85 (135)
4th & 5th ÐWARNING
cBe sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do
so can cause brake failure and lead
to an accident.
cDo not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
cDo not use the gear shift in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully en-
gaged.
c
Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the park-
ing brake and cause an accident.
To engage:pull the lever up.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Manual transmission models:
Place the selector lever in the N (Neutral)
position.
Automatic transmission models:
Move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position.
3. While pulling up on the lever slightly,
push the button and lower completely.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.
ASD0603
PARKING BRAKE
Starting and driving5-13
ZX

PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
cIf the cruise control system malfunctions,
it cancels automatically. The SET light in
the instrument panel then blinks to warn
the driver.
cIf the SET light in the instrument panel
blinks, turn the CRUISE ONzOFF switch
off and have the system checked by your
NISSAN dealer.
cThe SET light in the instrument panel
may blink when the CRUISE ONzOFF
switch is turned ON while pushing theACCEL/RES, SET/COAST, or CANCEL
switch (located on the steering wheel).
To properly set the cruise control system,
perform the following steps in the order
indicated.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when
driving under the following conditions:
cWhen it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed.
cIn heavy traffic or in traffic that var-
ies in speed.
cOn winding or hilly roads.
cOn slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,
etc.).
cIn very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do
not shift into N (Neutral) without de-
pressing the clutch pedal when the
cruise control is set. Should this occur,depress the clutch pedal and turn
the main switch off immediately.
Failure to do so may cause engine
damage.
CRUISE CONTROL
OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed
between 25 to 90 MPH (40 to 144 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator
pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,push the
CRUISE ONzOFF switch. The CRUISE
indicator light in the instrument panel comes
on.
To set cruising speed,accelerate your
vehicle to the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it. The SET
light in the instrument panel comes on. Take
your foot off the accelerator pedal. Your
vehicle maintains the set speed.
cTo pass another vehicle,depress the
accelerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previ-
ously set speed.
cThe vehicle may not maintain the set
WSD0009
CRUISE CONTROL
(if so equipped)
5-14Starting and driving
ZX

speed when going up or down steep
hills. If this happens, drive without the
cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed,use one of
the following three methods.
a) Push the CANCEL button; the SET light
in the instrument panel goes out.
b) Tap the brake pedal; the SET light in the
instrument panel goes out.
c) Turn the main switch off. Both the
CRUISE indicator and SET lights in the
instrument panel go out. The preset
speed is deleted from memory.
The cruise control will also automatically
cancel and the SET light in the instrument
panel goes out if:
cyou depress the brake pedal while push-
ing the ACCEL/RES or SET/COAST but-
tons. The preset speed is deleted from
memory.
cthe vehicle slows down more than 8 MPH
(13 km/h) below the set speed.
cyou depress the clutch pedal (manual
transmission), or move the shift selectorlever to N (Neutral) (automatic transmis-
sion).
To reset at a faster cruising speed,use
one of the following three methods.
a) Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push
and release the SET/COAST switch.
b) Push and hold the ACCEL/RES set
switch. When the vehicle attains the
speed you desire, release the switch.
c) Push and release the ACCEL/RES set
switch. Each time you do this, the set
speed increases by about 1 MPH (1.6
km/h).
To reset at a slower cruising speed,use
one of the following three methods.
a) Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push
the SET/COAST switch and release it.
b) Push and hold the SET/COAST switch.
Release the switch when the vehicle
slows down to the desired speed.
c) Push and release the SET/COAST
switch. Each time you do this, the setspeed decreases by about 1 MPH (1.6
km/h).
To resume the preset speed,push and
release the ACCEL/RES switch. The ve-
hicle returns to the last set cruising speed
when the vehicle speed is over 25 MPH (40
km/h).
Starting and driving
5-15
ZX

WARNING
Do not park the vehicle over flammable
materials such as dry grass, waste pa-
per or rags. They may ignite and cause
a fire.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2.Manual transmission models:
Place the selector lever in the R (Re-
verse) position. When parking on an up-
hill grade, place the selector lever in 1
(First) gear.Automatic transmission models:
Move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position.
WARNING
cSafe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and
the transmission placed into P (Park)
for automatic transmission models
or in an appropriate gear for manual
transmission models. Failure to do
so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and resultin an accident. Make sure the shift
lever has been pushed as far forward
as it can go and cannot be moved
without depressing the button at the
end of the lever.
cNever leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
c
Do not leave children unattended in-
side the vehicle. They could unknow-
inly activate switches or controls.
Unattended children could become
involved in serious accidents.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling
into traffic when parked on an incline, it is
a good practice to turn the wheels as
illustrated.
cHEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
s1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
s2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
MSD0002
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Starting and driving5-17
ZX